COMMISSION APPROVES FUNDING FOR NEW AGRICULTURE COST SHARE PROGRAM AND CONTINUES SUPPORT OF WORKFORCE EDUCATION ACROSS THE REGION
| Emporia, VA – The Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission held its third scheduled meeting of the year on Wednesday, September 30th at Golden Leaf Commons in Greensville County. Golden Leaf Commons is a 9,000 square foot multi-use assembly hall designed with a focus on workforce education and a mission closely aligned with that of the Commission. Between 2005 and 2010, the Tobacco Commission provided support to Greensville County for phases 1 and 2 of the project that developed the Southside Virginia Education Center and the Golden Leaf Commons. TRRC grants contributed to site acquisition and preparation and to the design, construction, and equipping of the buildings. For more information about Golden Leaf Commons, please click HERE. The Commission authorized several grants through its Competitive Education program to support the region’s community colleges as they prepare students for in-demand jobs, while also supplying the region’s employers with top quality workers. These awards are the latest additions to the Commission’s decades-long support of workforce education across the footprint. The Commission continued its focus on creating vibrant downtowns and main streets by approving a loan to support the redevelopment of the John Randolph Hotel in South Boston. This meeting also featured the launch of AgVision, a new agricultural cost-share program. |
| AgVision Pilot Program The AgVision cost-share pilot program is designed to incentivize local producers to diversify and innovate their farming operations. Modeled after the successful AgOptions program in Western North Carolina, the program incentivizes farmers, through a $10,000 grant, to work with Virginia Cooperative Extension and other partners to plan and implement a new agricultural practice on their farm. Up to $300,000 in funding is available to support producers in the twelve counties participating in this first year of the program. If the pilot proves successful, the Commission intends to expand this cost-share model across the entire region in 2027. This program will be administered by the Foundation for the Advancement of Southern and Southwest Virginia (FASS-VA), an independent 501(c)(3) foundation formed by the Commission to further its mission of building a robust economy across Southern and Southwest Virginia. For more about AgVision please take a look at the meeting packet. Additional information about FASS-VA can be found HERE, or by reaching out to the Commission using the contact info provided. The twelve counties participating in the pilot are: Southwest: Grayson, Lee, Russell, Washington, Wythe. Southern: Appomattox, Bedford, Brunswick, Campbell, Charlotte, Cumberland, Pittsylvania. |
Pictured Above: The Golden Leaf Commons and Southside Virginia Education Center. Also pictured: Commission Chairman Will Morefield thanks departing Commissioners Wayne Carter (left) and Will Pace for their service to the Commission.
| For a full list of projects approved at this meeting please CLICK HERE. For more information, the meeting packet on our website contains detailed project descriptions, staff comments, grant requirements, and other business, including project extensions and modifications to previous awards. |
| “Building a robust economy for Southern and Southwest Virginia requires long-term commitment and I am pleased that at our meetings here in Emporia the Commission has underscored its support for workforce education as well as helping our farmers and producers continue to grow and innovate,” said TRRC Chairman, Delegate Will Morefield. “I want to extend my thanks to my fellow commissioners, as well as the staff, for their work on bringing these projects and initiatives to life. I know that the real work happens in our communities and so I look forward to seeing these investments create real opportunities for the people who call this region home.” “The Commission is a valuable resource for the rural communities it serves, and I am honored to be part of its work,” said TRRC Executive Director David Manley. “It has been a pleasure getting to know our commissioners and staff over my first couple of months. I am excited to see the impact the grants approved at this meeting will have in the years to come and I look forward to working with our partners across Southern and Southwest Virginia to make sure the Commission continues to help meet the needs of our region.” |
Contact: Jordan Butler
Telephone: 804-894-9652
Cell: 757-692-0878
Email: jbutler@revitalizeva.org
Website: www.revitalizeva.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10/1/2026
